Council Committee Structure

Most matters are discussed in one or more Council committees before being brought to the full Council.  Committees meet on an as-needed basis; their sessions are open to the public except, under certain conditions, when they go into executive session.  Meeting notices are posted to this website and Village bulletin boards in advance.  Click on the Committee name in the chart below to read minutes of their meetings.

Other committees have been created to advise or provide oversight in a particular area.  Residents are appointed by Council to serve on these bodies.

Executive Session

An “executive session” is a private conference between members of Council, permitted for specific reasons, from which the public is excluded.  Council may invite anyone it chooses into an executive session, and conversely, may exclude anyone it so chooses.  Because an executive session means that discussions on public business will occur outside the public view, it may be used only for certain situations:

• Personnel:  To consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee, or official.
• Property: To consider the purchase of property; to consider the sale of property by competitive bid if disclosure of the information would result in a competitive advantage to the other side.
• Court Action:  May adjourn into executive session with the public body’s attorney to discuss pending or imminent court action.
• Collective Bargaining:  To prepare for, conduct, or review collective bargaining strategy.
• Confidential Matters:  To discuss matters required to be kept confidential by federal law, federal rules, or state statutes.
• Security Matters:  To discuss details of security arrangements and emergency response protocols where disclosure could be expected to jeopardize the security of the public body or public office.

A meeting must begin in open session, then have a motion made and approved to go into executive session before adjourning to it.  Council may take no formal action in an executive session.

Other Committees 

Amberley Village Environmental Stewardship Committee  — Established in September 2004 to preserve and enhance the natural park-like heritage of Amberley and to improve the visual appearance of our neighborhoods.   Nine members are appointed by Council for a two-year term with one representative each from Council, Planning Commission and staff, but the group is open to all residents with an interest in gardening, trees or nature.

Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals (PC/BZA) — Comprised of one representative from Council and four members appointed by the Mayor for a term of four years, this body has two distinct functions.

• The PC may amend or modify the existing zoning code of the Village. A public hearing is held before any change is made, after which the PC makes a recommendation to Council. The Village Council can accept, reject, or modify and then adopt the PC’s recommendation.
• The BZA has the authority to grant relief from strict application of the zoning code when conditions of undue hardship or practical difficulty can be demonstrated. BZA cases are considered on an individual basis in the context of the zoning and neighborhood character.

Long-Range Planning Committee — Established in 1997 by Village Ordinance 33.04, the Committee’s purpose is make recommendations to Council for action in the areas of land development, intergovernmental issues, financial management, ordinances review, communications, personnel, schooling, recreation, and any other areas pertaining to long-range planning for the Village. It was convened in 2008 by Merrie Stillpass in her role as then vice-mayor. With resident input, the 2008 LRPC developed a Vision Plan for Amberley in the year 2018 that includes suggested strategies for realizing the vision.

Stormwater Management Advisory Committee — Oversees and makes recommendations concerning improvements and maintenance of the Village-owned portions of the stormwater sewer system. Section 156 of the Code of Ordinances guides policy and decisions made by this committee.  Chaired by a member of Council, its remaining three members are residents appointed by the Mayor for a four-year term.

Property Maintenance Code Review Board – Hears appeals from residents on decisions made under the Village’s property maintenance code.  Consists of three members qualified in the area of property maintenance appointed by the Mayor.  Two alternate members also are appointed.

Income Tax Review Board – Hears appeals from residents on decisions of the Income Tax Administrator.  It may affirm, reverse or modify the original decision.  Consists of three members who may be Village officials but not members of Council.  Current board members are:  Village Treasurer Rick Kay, Village Manager Scot Lahrmer, and resident Judy Barron.